WHARF DISPUTE AT AUCKLAND

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 68, Issue 134, 18 March 1948, Page 6

WHARF DISPUTE AT AUCKLAND

Settlement Likely To-day

COMMISSION’S PROPOSALS

<T.A.) AUCKLAND. March 1". There were strong indications to-day that the long dispute on tlie Auckland Watevtront would ■come tryan end to-morrow. Proposals for settlement wore made

by tlm Waterfront Industry Com-

mission to the Auckland branch

of the Waterside Workers’ Union and will, he discussed at the monlldy slop-work meeting ot the branch in the Town Hall in the morning.

No public statement oni Ihe proposals was made either by the commission in Wellington or by _ the union, but the Auckland and national president of the union (Mr H. Barnes) and Mr T. Hill, national secretary, appeared pleased. Mr Barnes’s only comment was that a decision rested with the stop-work meeting. With tlie exception of a break of two days, no overtime work has been accepted by Auckland Waterside workers, since February 10, and the loss of ] ( J hours a week for more than a month has seriously delayed the movements of shipping. Since March 1 the Waterfront Industry Commission has maintained that the actual vessel, in dispute, the wheat ship Mountpark, must be manned before any other fresh labour can he engaged. except that required for a lew priority cargoes. The loss: of working time and the preference policy have resulted in a. formidable accumulation of cargoes to be moved ,when work resumes on a normal basis. The commission once more called for labour 1o man the Mountpark this morning. A total of 122 men refused work and were placed on penalty. SHIPS MAY SAIL PART LOADED (P.A.) WEEING TON, March 17. Two Shaw Savill' and Albion liners, the Atlienic and the Akaroa, which are at present loading at Auckland, will sail for Britain on March 25, whether; they have completed loading or not. This was announced by the Wellington office of the company today."in the following official statement :—•

“Sailings from Auckland of the Athenic for Glasgow and the Akaroa for Southampton and London have been delayed as a. result ot no overtime being worked on the Auckland waterfront. l't is now doubtful whether the loading of these ships will be completed by Easter. To avoid the possibility of further delay through the vessels being held in Auckland over Easter, it has been decided to dispatch them on March 26, whether the loading of refrigerated or general cargo has been completed or not.” “The vesels have one chance in a hundred of being fully loaded by March 25,” said a company official, “ft is impossible to say how much cargo they may leave behind, as so many factors enter into loading. The main cause of the definite dispatch is the fact that it will he imposible for intending passengers -to remain in Auckland hotels over Easter, as there is no accommodation for them. To hold both vessels over four days’ holiday to complete loading is not warranted.

‘-The Akaroa, which was, due to sail on March 3. is over three weeks behind schedule. The Athenic was due lo sail on March !). and so has been put hack 10 days by the loss of overtime work. Fully loaded, the ships would carry about, 10,000 tons oi produce to Britain, mainly reirigernted foodstuffs.”